Despite governmental efforts to combat the illegal trade in rhino horns, South Africa witnessed an alarming surge in poaching, with almost 500 rhinos killed by poachers in 2023, marking an 11 percent increase from the previous year.
Home to a significant majority of the world’s rhino population, South Africa faces intense poaching pressure, largely fueled by demand from Asia, where rhino horns are sought for their purported therapeutic properties in traditional medicine.
The country’s environment ministry disclosed that 499 rhinos fell victim to poaching in 2023, primarily within state-run parks. Notably, the eastern KwaZulu-Natal province, notably the Hluhluwe–Imfolozi park – Africa’s oldest reserve, suffered the highest losses, losing 307 rhinos.
Environment Minister Barbara Creecy expressed concern, stating, “This is the highest poaching loss within this province,” while emphasizing the ongoing efforts of multi-disciplinary teams to mitigate the relentless pressure.
Security measures have been intensified in recent years, particularly around the Kruger National Park, resulting in a significant drop in rhino losses to 78 in 2023, a 37 percent reduction from 2022.
However, this shift has redirected poachers towards regional and private reserves like Hluhluwe–Imfolozi.
In KwaZulu-Natal alone, law enforcement agencies arrested 49 suspected poachers in 2023, with 45 poachers and horn traffickers convicted nationwide. Notably, a former field ranger received a 10-year sentence for killing a rhino, claiming self-defense.
As a precaution, the national parks authority implemented lie detector tests for new employees in 2023 amid concerns about potential collusion with poachers.
Rhino horns command high prices in black markets, rivalling those of gold and cocaine. Despite these challenges, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) reported positive news in September 2023, noting a 5.2 percent increase in rhino numbers across Africa compared to 2021. South Africa, estimated to host around 15,000 rhinos, plays a crucial role in these conservation efforts.
Jeff Cooke of the World Wildlife Fund acknowledged the hopeful IUCN population figures but stressed the fragility of these gains as long as the poaching crisis persists. The recent spike in killings in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal region is particularly alarming, he added.
